ALUMNI NOW | OCTOBER 2022

A message from Mike Ward, Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations

Dear Brophy Alumni,
 
The past month at Brophy has been very busy and full of energy. As the school year began, the administration and our teachers incorporated a block class schedule for our students after years of discernment and professional development. Based on surveys from our students, parents and teachers, the new class schedule has been very successful for everyone. The Student Climate Coalition, led by Brophy teacher and alum, Cooper Davis ‘10, introduced the Zero Waste Initiative on campus to significantly reduce Brophy’s carbon footprint. The annual Freshman Retreat was held over the weekend of Sept. 16-18 with all of our freshmen giving back to local organizations through service and having the opportunity to build new relationships within the Brophy community. 

At the end of the month, Brophy welcomed over 200 alumni back on campus for our third Grand Reunion. This year, we celebrated all classes that graduated in the years ending in 2 and 7. The weekend began with the Alumni Shadow Day where our alumni had the opportunity to visit different classes as school was in session with their Brophy tour guide. Afterward, they enjoyed lunch with their hosts and faculty in the Great Hall. On Friday evening, all of the reunion classes gathered in the Dutch Plaza to celebrate Oktoberfest and share stories about their Brophy experiences. On Saturday morning, alumni and their families met in the Great Hall to build 200 hygiene kits for foster children through Arizona Helping Hands. After the service project was completed, everyone enjoyed a barbecue lunch and tours of campus. On Sunday, the Grand Reunion closed with mass at the Brophy Chapel. 
 
 
I want to thank everyone who was able to attend! Click here to see more pictures from the entire weekend. With each year, this event continues to grow, and we cannot wait for next year when we celebrate all Brophy alumni who graduated in the years ending in 3 and 8 over the weekend of Friday, Sept. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

As I was looking toward the next few weeks and future alumni events, I read about the life of St. Francis Xavier, S.J. from Xavier University professor, Debra Mooney, Ph.D., who describes Francis Xavier as a passion-driven individual who had an openness to the influence of others. Mooney writes, “Francis Xavier set high goals for himself, not to be the best or first to do something, but to make an impact.” Through his travels across Europe, India and eventually Japan, he did make an impact on others, but at the same time, he began to see how complex and different cultures were. Getting to know and understand these cultures, at first, was a major obstacle for him, but he later began to appreciate the beauty of different languages, cultures and faiths. This is where he began to see God’s presence in “...all cultures, peoples, places, and things.” I hope that many of our alumni will be able to get back to campus or visit at an event in your hometown and see how Brophy has continued to adapt to a changing and more diverse culture found in the Valley of the Sun. The legacy that all of you have helped to build still exists today and it is helping us continue to grow and make a positive impact on the lives of our students and others. 

Stay updated on all of our future alumni events by following Brophy Alumni on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We hope to see many of you at the Alumni Homecoming Tailgate in the Jesuit Garden on Friday, Oct. 28, the Alumni Happy Hour in Santa Clara, California on Thursday, Nov. 3, Brophy’s annual Open House on Sunday, Nov. 6, celebrating the Alumni Service Awards at the Father-Son Communion Breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 19, the Fine Arts Extravaganza on Tuesday, Nov. 22, and the Brophy Golf Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
 
Stay safe and healthy!  Go Broncos!
 
 
Mike

BROPHY ALUMNI EVENTS

 
 
Alumni Homecoming Tailgate — Friday, Oct. 28, Jesuit Garden 
Join us for the Homecoming tailgate and varsity football game against Desert Vista High School. The event will begin at 5 p.m. on campus in the Jesuit Garden where food and drinks will be served. We will then walk over to Central High School to cheer on the Broncos from the end zone! Purchase your ticket here
 
 
Alumni Happy Hour in Santa Clara, California — Thursday, Nov. 3
Calling all alumni in the San Jose and Santa Clara area: Join us at The Hut for an alumni happy hour! RSVP here

The 2022 Alumni Awards — Saturday, Nov. 19
The 2022 Alumni Awards will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 19, at this year’s Father-Son Communion Breakfast. We will be honoring Joseph Anderson ‘67 with the St. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Distinguished Service and Dr. Matthew Might ‘99 with the St. Francis Xavier Award for Ignatian Identity. More information is coming soon on the website. If you would like to attend, you can respond here.
 

BROPHY SCHOOL EVENTS

 
To read October’s reflection from Fr. Bill Muller, S.J., click here. Learn more about the Gospel story of Jesus curing ten lepers and the importance of gratitude.
 
 
Brophy Fall Auction: Brophy Ranch — Saturday, Oct. 15
The silent auction is now open! Anyone can bid on items — you do not have to be in attendance at the auction. The silent auction will close at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Don’t miss these items: professional poker party, a stay at Castle Hot Springs, BBQ package, Suns and Cardinals suites, private dinner packages and much more! Click here to view and bid on items.
 
Brophy’s Annual Open House — Sunday, Nov. 6, Noon-4 p.m.
Registration has opened for Brophy’s annual open house. Join us for campus tours and information on academic programs, sports and co-curricular activities, as well as financial aid and the admissions process. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk to students, faculty, administration, coaches and parents. Students of all ages are invited to attend with their parents — it's never too early to think about becoming a Brophy Bronco!
 
Brophy Fine Arts Extravaganza — Tuesday, Nov. 22, 6-9 p.m. 
Save the date for the Fine Arts Extravaganza where students will showcase their talents through live music, art galleries, performances, poetry and more! Come by at 5:30 p.m. for Brophy’s first tree-lighting ceremony on the front lawn that will kick off the event.
 
 
The 41st Annual Brophy Golf Classic — Wednesday, Dec. 7
Register now for the Brophy Golf Classic! We hope you join us on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the beautiful Grayhawk Golf Club for a worthy cause. For more information, please visit the website.
 

ALUMNI NEWS

 
NEW BABY WISHES
 
  • Ben Hunter ‘04 and his wife, Christine Taranto, welcomed Ruth Walker Hunter on Aug. 18.
 
  • Adam Hanson ‘07 and his wife, Tara, welcomed Sterling on Sept. 3. 
  • Walker Adams ‘16 and his wife, Kylie, welcomed their son on Sept. 9. 
  • Joseph Valenzuela ‘09 and his wife, Crystal, welcomed Isaac on Sept. 15. 
  • Kyle Harder ‘02 and his wife, Courtney XCP ‘01, welcomed Sutton Grace Harder on Sept. 16. Sutton joins brothers, Grayson aged 10 and Logan aged 7. 
  • Reed Loustalot ‘12 and his wife, Megan XCP ‘12, welcomed Natalie Ann Loustalot on Oct. 6.
  • Edmund Hubbard ‘10 and his wife, Logan, welcomed Warren Rhode Hubbard on Oct. 9.
 
 
WEDDING BELLS
 
  • Cooper Munhall ‘14 married Claire Heiland XCP ‘14 on April 23 in Brophy Chapel. The wedding party included five Brophy alumni: Karl Heiland ’10, Luke Heiland ’16, Matthew Munhall ’12, Jack Munhall ‘20 and Bobby Munhall ’23. Also in attendance were the father of the bride, Dr. Kurt Heiland ’82, and the father of the groom, Dr. Bob Munhall ’75.
 
  • Jack Rose ‘16 married Victoria Ward on Aug. 31 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They now live in Phoenix with their son, Archie.
  • Lucas Santucci ‘15 married Savannah Rummel on Sept. 2 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with many Brophy alumni in attendance.
 
  • Ryan Suniga ‘09 married Colleen McNulty on Sept. 10 in Brophy Chapel.
 
Congratulations to all! 
 
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 
Charles Cobb ‘21 recently completed the new student orientation training phase for Navy ROTC at the University of Michigan and has been officially sworn in as a midshipman. He will continue to train with the Marines for the foreseeable future. Congratulations, Charles!
 
 
Austen Thompson ‘08 was recently inducted to the UofA Hall of Fame for men’s swim and dive. Congratulations, Austen!
 
 
Brody Haar ‘22, who is a freshman at Vanderbilt University and is on their cross country team, recently ran his first 8K in Indiana in a time of 26:00.6. He placed third for the team and 61st overall. Congratulations, Brody!
 
 
Gurkaran Bhatti ‘17 and Matthew Leonard ‘17 are both in their first year of law school at Depaul University!
 
 
Nolan Weinstein ‘14 competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 6. Congratulations, Nolan!
 
 
 
IN MEMORIAM 
 
We send our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Philip Calihan ‘63 who passed away on June 16. Thank you to Jim Burnes ‘68 for letting us know. Obituary 
 
We also send our prayers to the family of David Park ‘78 who passed away on July 9. Obituary 
 
Charles DiStefano ‘70 passed away on Aug. 25. Please keep his family in your prayers.
 
If you have documented news of an alumnus who has passed on, please let us know, so that he is not left out of our In Memoriam tributes. Thank you.
 
 
 
PLEASE SEND ALUMNI NEWS TO
Brophy College Preparatory | 4701 North Central Avenue | Phoenix, Arizona 85012
www.brophyprep.org